Snap hook



. Aug. 5, 1930. c. D. EVANS SNAPJ-IOOK Filed Sept. 30, 1929 Patented Aug. 5,1930

' I cal ri]. EVANS, on JERS Y CITY, NEW JERSEY;

SNAP HOOK Applieationffil ed se 'tenpers mw ser a noyssazse.

This invention relates to'certain improvements in snap hooks; and "the nature and objects of the inventionwill be readily understood 'by those skilled in the art in the light of the"following'explanation and detailedfl'description of the accompanyingv drawings illustrating what I, at present, con'-- siderto bathe preferred embodiments or mechanical expressions from among various other forms, arrangements,-eombinations and constructions of which :theinvention is capable within the spiritvandthe scope'thereof.

The invention is more particularly directed to thosetypes of snap hooks which embody 1 a freelymovable;spring-actuated member or tongue normally closingthe hook and which can be depressed or swung to position opening the'hook to permit of-attaching and: detaching samefli-With" these types of snap hooks; considerable diiiiculty is experienced in preventing the hook 'closing member] or. tongue from being 7 inadvertently; or acci-- dentally depressed "or forced inwardly to position opening the hook and allowingthe hook to free {itself or "become disengaged from a'member'to which-it has been attached.

A general v-objectfof the invention is to 7 provide locking mechanism for such types of hooks through the vi nediurniv of Iwhich the 0 hook-closing member orto'ngue can be read ily secured and held against hook-opening,

.movement, orican be released foroperations to open the hook. Another object of the in vention'is to provide locking? mechanism for a hook of this type which will befof'simple mechanical construction and will not materially-add to the weight or over-all dime'n sions of theho-ok; which will be of a 'construction readily manufactured at compara- 40 tively low cost, and which' will'belefiicient in operation and use top'ermit of quickly and easily releasing or securingthe ho'ok cl'osingmembjeror tongue] I .A'feature of 'the invention resides'in the provision of such a locking mechanism which embodies a securing-or lockingmember car-- ried thev hook=closing member or tongue and {swingable laterally to" and from -posi-' tion interposedgbetween: the tongue and ad-.

1 jacent hook structurehzto secure'iandlock the tongue into hook-closing position against depression or inward hook-opening movementand, further, 7 vwhich embodies a manually operated member for releasably' secur ing the tongue-locking memberuin tongue securing r locking position against movementa i 1; ,4 m J 'With thexforegoing and certain" objects and results innview which will be readily apparent; from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in constructionxand in combinationand arrangement ofparts as Willbe more fullyl and "particularly "referred? toiand specified hereinafter. m V 'n; l f

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding partsthroughoutthe several'figures thereof: a :2 e Fignl is a view inside elevation of a, snap hook of my invention, embodyingone form of locking mechanism therefor," such mecha nism being shown in locked positionsecuring the hook-clo'slng member 'or'tongue' against Fig. 2-is a view similar to Fignl with-the locking mechanism releasedfor swinging to position to permit OfdGPlBSSlligthG tongue andopening the-hook. 1} I Fig-v 3 is a planyview of thefsnap hook z 1 v i 1 Fig.f-4 is a plan; view of the hookof l igs.

1 to3, with the locking mechanismswung laterally to 1 position releasing ;.the spring tongue" for movement to open-:thehook. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveviewofl thehook of Fig; 1-, vshowing the" locking mechanism in unlocked,springrtongue releasing position, wltli the. spr ng tongue depressed tohookg openingpositione 1 Fig. 61sa; view n s1de elevationiof another form of snap hook locki-ngemechani-sm of showninvertical section,-- it I I Fig 7 is aview of the hook'of Fig-6, showing the lockingmechani'sm in its laterall-y swung, 1 unlocked; v position with the springUtongue depressed to hook-opening pQSltiOIL f" v 1 r 1- S viewi j p P an o the k my invention, portions of the hook being 1 toward the hook shank pressed hook-opening position, the tongue 1 upon the release or removal of the hooks of various other types as well as to hooks of Sev- - eral forms of which the invention is capableare presented herewith, purely by way of example and not .of limitation, forthe purpose of; explaining and bringing forth the principles and various features of the invention: to enable those skilled in the art to understand thecsame. .However, it is notintended to limit the invention to the exact forms here shown as the invention contemplates and includes variousother forms and arrangements embodying the broad principles and various features of the invention.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated. in Figs. 1 to 5, a snap hook comprising the hook body or shank 10 terminating in'the hook bill 11 at one end and, at the other end, provided with any suitable attaching means, such as the swivel shackle 12, is disclosed. A hook-closing member or tongue 14 is suitably'mounted and secured to the body of shank 10 at the end thereof, opposite 1 the hook bill, and extends forwardly and outwardly across the hook shank 10 to and engages the inner side of the free or outer endof the hook bill. This member or tongue 14 is in the present example, although not so limited, formed of spring material and is mounted so as to normally extend across and close the hook, as will be clear by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The operation of this spring tongue is well understood in the art, the hook being opened by depressing the tongue and moving the same inwardly 10. From its desprings back to normal hook-closing position hook-opening forces therefrom.

- securin or f In accordance with the invention, a tonguelocking member .15-is carried by the. spring tongue 14, and in tongue-locking position'is interposed between and engages the hook shank 10 and the inner side of the tongue, holding and securing the tongue in hook-closing'position against depression or.

ent-example, the form of a block-having a projection '16 at its forward andouter, or tongue-engaging,

inwardhook-opening movement. In the pres this locking member 15 is in end, by which it is pivotally connected with the forward endofthe tongue 14 through the medium of a pivot .pin '17,-the lockingmemas the invention is of general appli-' tending to its tongue-securing and locking depressing therein and" ber extending from this pin a distance along the under side of the locking tongue an between the tongue and the hook shank. The hook bill 11 is provided with a transverse bore or hole 18 therethrough, adjacent to end of the hook bill, which bore receives the outer end of the locking member pivot pin 17 with the tongue in hook-closing position, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The locking member 15 is laterally swingable on the pin 17 to the position exlaterally from the hook, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this laterally extended position the member 15 is removed from between the tongue and hook shank 10 and lies out of thepath of inward movement of the tongue. 14 so as to permit free depression or inward swinging movement of the tongue to. hook-unlocking position. It is to be noted that, due to'the projection 16 ofmember 15. and the pivotal connection of the member to theend of the tongue through this projection, when the member is swung-laterally from the hook an unobstructed space is provided between the projection and the hook shank, which permits of free and unobstructed inward swinging movement of the tongue carrying the member 15. r

When it 's desired to lock the hook, the member 15 is swung inwardly to position interposed betweentongue 14 and the hook shank, thereby locking the tongue against depression or inward opening movement. To release or. unlock the hook-closing memher. or tongue 14, the locking member 15. is swungon pin '17to. the. laterally extended position of Fig. 4 and. the tongue is then depressed orswung inwardly,carrying member 15 with it, to the hook-opening position shown in Fig. 5 ofthe drawing. Upon release of tongue 14 in hook-opening position, the tongue springs outwardlyto closed position and the member. 15 is then swung inwardly V osition interposed between the tongue and t e hook shank 10.;-

The invention provides, further, for look ing or releasable means securing the member 15in position interposed between the hook shankand-the'tongue for holding the latter in hook-closing position. this featureof the invention in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a discor' circular plate 19 is rotatably mounted at one side of the member- 1 5on astud versely in and extending through the member 15'. This locking disc 19 is cut away at one side to provide the flattened portion 19 so that when-the disc is rotated to the position shown in Fig. swung outwardly from within the hook without, obstruction by or interference from the locking disc. The inner side of-the hook shank lO-is-formed with a slot or groove 21 In carrying out 7 P 'QOfiXed transh member 15 can 'be freely 2' disposed longitudinally thereof 3 in alignment with the locking disc 19 when the member 15 is in tongue-securing position. When the member 15 is in tongue-holding position, the disc 19 lies in alignment with groove 21 and by manually rotating or turning this disc from its position shown in Fig. 2, the "disc is moved to position extending down into groove 21, as clearly shown by Fig. 1, and thereby locks member 15 in tongueholding position against lateral swing. The diameter of the disc 19 is such that it extends across the adjacent edge of the tongue 14 and thereby provides a stop, preventing lateral swinging of member 15 in I rection'toward the side of the hook at which the groove 21 is disclosed.

By the foregoing construction and arrangement therefor, the tongue-holding member is readily locked and secured against inadvertent lateral position, by the locking disc 19 the hook shank groove21. The is readily released and unlocked swing to permit of hook-opening of the tongue, by rotating the locking disc 19 until the flattened portion ther'eoflies substantially parallel to the hook shank and remember 15 for lateral moved from the groove 21. a I A modified formof the invention is dis-v closed in Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawing, in which form in place of the locking disc 19 and hook shank groove 21, a locking screw or pin 22 is provided which, in the present instance, is

' threaded transversely through the hook shank 10 and extends inwardly a distancetherebeyond at the inner side of the hook shank and in the path of movement of the tongue-securing member 15. The tongue-securing member 15 is provided with a bore or socket 23 on its inner side for alignment with and receiving the extended end of the lockin screw 22. In the o eration and use of this form of the invention, with the locking member '15 in tongue-holding and securing position shown in Fig. 6, the screw 21 extends into the member socket or bore 23 and secures and holds the member 15 against lat eral swing. When it is desired to unlock and release member 15 for swinging to position allowing opening movement of tongue 14, the locking screw 22 is moved outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 7, removed from socket 23 and thus allowinglateral swing of. member 15 to the position and 8 for hook-opening movement of the shown in Figs. 7

tongue 14.

, In the foregoing manner, the invention provides for the eiiicient and practical locking of hooks of the fsnap and'other types to prevent accidental opening thereof when in their locked, attached position; The width of a hook is not materially increased by the designand construction of the invention, due

to the location in hook-closing position of the locking mechanism substantially within ing and closing member,

other than the di swing when in tongue-holding engaged in movement locking member pivotally mounted and between the confines of the hook structure. .The'locking mechanism is such that it and constructed as to practically eliminate possibility of inadvertent operation thereof to unlock the hook-closing member.

It is also evident that various changes,

modifications, substantiations and variations might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and the scope of my invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact and specificdisclosures hereof.

:Desiring to protect my inventioninthe broadest manner legally possible, what I claim, isz a 1. In a snap hook, including a spring hookclosing tongue, a lockingmember pivotally carried *by said tongue and swingable inclevpendently thereof to and from positioninterposed'between the tongue and hook and securing the tongue in hook-closing position. "2. Infia snap hook, including a spring tongue normally inhook-closing position, a

posed at the. inner side of said tongue and swingable to and from position interposed between thetongue and the hook.

3. Ina hook, a pivotally mountedhook-010s;

swingable laterally'of the hook and hook closing memberrto positionpermitting inward swinging of the hook-closing. member. 4.. Inaisnap hook, a tongue for opening. and closing "the hook,

yet is so arranged position, the said 90 and dis- 1 ingmemberinwardly swlngablefrom closed a member pivotally mounted 'on' the inner side ofsaidtongue and disposed andengaged between the tongue and the hook to secure the tongue in hoolcclosing position, and the said member swingable outwardly to position extended laterally from the tongue andremovedirom position be-.

tween the tongue andhookto permit the tongueito open the hook r i 5. 3 In a hook, a tongue normallyclosing the hook rand 'g inwardly swingableto position opening the'hook, a member pivotally mo'unted on the tongue. .disposed'and engaged between the inner side: of the tongue and. the opposite: portion ofthe hook to secure the tongue-in: hook closing .position against in.-

saldmember swing-able outward swinging, wardly from between the tongueand hook to position permitt ng inward sn 'ingin'g of the tongue; to hook-openingjposition, and means iorreleasablylocking said member-in tonguesecuringpositmn- 6. In a hook, a hook closing tongue inward- -ly swingable from book closing position to position opening the hook, and a member normally positioned at the inner side of and interposed between the tongue and the hook and maintaining the tongue in closed position against. inward swinging, the said member movable to position removed from the path of and releasing the tongue for inward swinging to open the hook.

7. The combination with a hook having a closing tongue inwardly swingable to position opening the hook, or a member movable to and from position engaged between the tongue and the hook and interposed in the path of inward swinging of the tongue to r hold the tongue in hook closing position against inward swinging.

8. In a hook, a hook closing tongue inwardly swingable from Closed position to hook o enin osition a'member inter osed between the tongue and hook at the inner side of the tongue to secure the tonguein closed.

position against'inward hook opening swinging, and said member pivotally mounted and laterally swingable to positionreleasing said tongue for swinging to hook opening position. 9. In a hook, a-hook closing tongue inwardly swingable from closed position to hook opening position, a member movable to position at the inner side of said tongue to hold the" tongue against inward swinging, said member movable from tongue holding position to position releasing the tongue for inward swinging to open thehook, and a movable looking member for releasably looking said member in position holding the tongue in hook closing position. 5

'10. In a hook, a spring pressed tongue in normal position closing the hook, said tongue swingable inwardly under pressure to position opening the hook, and a member pivotally mounted on said tongue. and movable independently thereof to and from" position bearing against the inner side of said tongue to secure the tongue against inward hook opening swmgm 1 '11; Ina'hook, a tongue for opening and closing the hook, said tongue inwardly swingable from hook closing to "hook opening position, a tongue holding member extending between the inner side of the tongue and the opposite side portion of the hook to hold the tongue in closed position against inward swinging to open the hook, said member provided with a supporting arm extending there from adjacent and pivotally mounted". on the under side of the tongue at a point'spaeed from the member, and said member laterally swingable with said arm to and from posifor inward swinging to open thehooka tion removed from and releasing the tongue Signed at Jersey City, county ofHudson,

CHARLES D. EVANS. 

